If Juan Nicasio and Jeff Francis were facing scrutiny before, they are under the microscope now.

Tyler Chatwood, sent down to Triple-A despite his strong two-game performance in a Rockies uniform, made a huge statement to rejoin the big-league rotation.

The fiery right-hander threw a complete-game, four-hit shutout for the Sky Sox Tuesday night in a 5-0 victory over the Iowa Cubs. Chatwood struck out eight and walked none, allowing only one Cubs hitter to reach second base.

Nicasio, who’s struggled with pitch counts, consistency and struggles mastering a changeup, is scheduled to pitch Wednesday night against the Yankees — weather permitting. Francis pitches Thursday afternoon against the Yanks’ CC Sabathia. A slip up by either one will almost certainly open the door for Chatwood.

Some news from Low-A Asheville was not so good. David Dahl, last year’s first-round draft choice, injured his right hamstring in a long first inning and left the game. Dahl lined an RBI-double to left field and scored in a first inning in which the Tourists sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs. But in his second at-bat of the inning, he drove in two more runs with an infield single, but after sprinting to first base, Dahl fell to the ground and had to be helped off the field.

But there was a very bright spot from the Tourists’ 9-3 victory over Augusta. Top prospect Eddie Butler threw another gem, allowing one infield hit in six scoreless innings. Ashley Marshall has more about the Tourists’ good news-bad news game.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.